West Sussex · London and the South East
Gutter survey in Colwood, West Sussex
Wondering about the gutter at a property in Colwood? We carry out gutter surveys in Colwood and across West Sussex, with plain-English findings.
- Hoppers and outlets full of debris
- Gutters overflowing in heavy rain
- Water backing up from a hidden gutter
Tips that help
Most of what helps is simple and safe from ground level. Our suggestions:
- Have overhanging branches cut back
- Watch for green marks down the brickwork
- Check from ground level or a window, not a ladder
- Include valley, parapet and box gutters when clearing
Where the evidence points to drains below ground, the report says so, so a drain survey can be arranged. We also note anything else we spot on the roof while we are there.
Hidden gutters need clearing too. They collect leaves and silt just like eaves gutters but they’re much harder to spot, so ask for them to be included when gutters are cleared.
Gutter survey in Colwood
Your gutters take the rain from the roof and lead it away from the walls. When they block, leak or lose their fall, the water goes where it shouldn’t and that typically means the walls or the inside of the building. We check the full rainwater system above ground, from eaves gutters and valleys to outlets, hoppers and downpipes. You get a written report with photos. Common reasons to book are joints that drip after rain and gutters full of debris and silt, on eaves gutters, downpipes and parapet and box gutters.
Village roofs often face open fields and take the full force of wind and rain, so ridges, chimney stacks, flashings and gutters work hard. Older walls take a long time to dry once water gets in. A roof report shows what needs attention first. On exposed older roofs, chimneys and lead flashings are frequently the first to give way.
The report is written in plain words, so you don’t need to be a roofer to follow it. Photographs show what each point refers to, and recommendations are put by urgency where it matters.
- Location
- Colwood (RH17)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Can I check my roof myself?
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and a fall can be serious. That’s where a survey comes in.
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
Nearby places to Colwood
What else we do in Colwood
What we do, step by step
Before we start, let us know why you’ve booked: buying, a leak, storm damage, new work or just wanting to know where things stand. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. The visit normally takes roughly 1–2 hours for most homes, and longer where there are parapet, valley or box gutters to follow. Older roofs in small places like Colwood can have low, tight loft spaces, so it helps to know whether there’s a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- You let us know where you’ve seen overflows, drips or damp.
- We walk round the building and check the gutters, downpipes and fascias from ground level.
- We check hidden gutters as far as safe access allows.
- Where it’s safe, we check the loft for signs of water.
- A written report with photographs and recommendations follows.
How to prepare
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
Booking a survey
A quick phone call is typically the easiest start: call 07833 053749 or email us. You’ll have a price before anything is arranged.
Read more
How we price gutter surveys
When we price a survey, we consider:
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
One thing that affects the price is the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all including VAT. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
What we need to know
When you call or email, these details help:
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- What made you get in touch
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
Photos help, if you have them. Take them safely from the ground or a window; never climb up to get a better view. To get started, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Colwood: your questions answered
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Colwood?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it is in a conservation area. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Is Colwood within the area you cover?
Yes, Colwood is on our map. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
What insurance do you have?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and we can provide details if a managing agent needs them.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Yes, where it applies and safe. We fly a sub-250g drone and we’re a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). It’s included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where it applies, the Premium Survey.
Will you check the loft?
Where it is relevant to the survey and there is safe access, yes. A clear path to the hatch helps.
How fast do I get the report?
The Premium Survey report comes the same day, the Standard within 24–48 hours and the Basic within 48 hours. Each one is emailed.
Is there a good time of year to book a gutter survey?
You can book at any time of year. Before the wetter months gives you time to plan any work though problems often show up after heavy rain.
Colwood homes and their roofs
About 3.4 miles north-east lies Tyes Place, a reminder of how long the area around Colwood has been built on. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead. In Sussex, older roofs are often handmade clay tile, frequently with tile-hanging on the walls below. Some old buildings in Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters.
Colwood is about 5 miles north-west of Burgess Hill, in West Sussex. We cover Colwood and the rest of West Sussex, as part of our work across London and South East England. Our area takes in places right across West Sussex, large and small. We also survey roofs in Crawley.
We work across the RH17 postcode area for gutter surveys and the streets around it. That includes homes and businesses on Earwig Lane and Cross Colwood Lane and the roads around them. We also cover the places around Colwood: Crabtree (1 mile north-west), Lower Beeding (2 miles north-west), Slaugham (3 miles north), Plummers Plain (3 miles north) and Monk's Gate (3 miles north-west). Further out, we also cover Crawley (8 miles north), Horsham (6 miles north-west), Worthing (15 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (6 miles east), Burgess Hill (5 miles south-east) and East Grinstead (13 miles north-east).
What’s near Colwood
We work in homes and buildings around Leonardslee. Well-known places in the area include The Dene Hospital (3.8 miles south-east) and Cuckfield Museum (3.7 miles east). Open spaces near Colwood include Blunts Wood and Paiges Meadow.
What this survey cannot tell you
Our findings are based on what we can see safely on the day, so some things are outside what a survey can do:
- Whether a material contains asbestos (a specialist asbestos surveyor’s job)
- What’s hidden inside a downpipe
- Damage hidden inside walls or behind boards
If you are not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer before you book. What a survey covers and does not.
What we look at
- Fascias and soffits
- Outlets and hoppers
- Downpipes
- Eaves gutters
- Parapet and box gutters
- Valley gutters
Common roof problems in Colwood
Plenty of tiled and slate roofs carry moss, and heavy rain washes clumps of it into the gutters. Mixed with grit from the roof, it settles as silt that slows the flow and gives plants somewhere to grow.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Valley or box gutters that overflow inside
- Dripping or leaking gutter joints
- Water spilling over the gutter edge
- Leaking or loose downpipes
Trees in and around Leonardslee shed leaves that can end up in nearby gutters.
What to check before booking
- How long the report takes to arrive
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
- Will the report include photos?